Savannah Marshall believes that her WBO middleweight title defence against Femke Hermans this weekend will serve as the final roadblock before a summer showdown with Claressa Shields.

Marshall puts her belt on the line for the third time against Hermans at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

The final press conference took place on Thursday, and Marshall plans on getting past Hermans and then turning her attention to Shields.

Marshall said: “I can’t wait. This fight has been nearly a year in the making. We were meant to box last year and it fell through on fight week, so me and Femke have done two full camps studying each other. I’m familiar with her, and she will be with me.

“This is my toughest test to date. Femke is a former world champion and has only ever lost to world champions. My last fight was great. The reception I received was unbelievable. Lolita came storming out in the first round and tried to stick it on me, and that aided the knockout in the second round

“I’ve come on leaps and bounds under Peter Fury and due to this platform on Sky. Claressa knows what I can do, so I’m not out to impress her. She’s always been creeping out in the background.

“I have tunnel vision, and I know I can’t overlook Femke, but once I win on Saturday there is nothing in the way of setting up a massive fight against Claressa. I’ll get Femke out of the way and then we’ll have it in the summer.”